of lyndonville



(No Model.)

A. FISK.

FRUIT CRATE.

No. 245,292. Patexit'ed Aug. 9,1881.

lllll INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES WW @T M N. PETERS. Fivol l lhogmphnn Wnhingtan. 0,6.

NITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ASA B. FISK, OF LYNDONVILLE, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 245,292, dated August 9, 1881.

Application filed April 13, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ASA B. FIsK, of Lyndonville, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, a citizen of the United States, have made certain Improvements in Fruit- Orates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wooden box, crate, or package for packing and transporting fine or perishable fruits, such as peaches, berries, &c., so that they can be carried any distance, if required, and the box or crate returned for further use to the shipper; and the invention consists in providing such box, &c., with a selt hinging and partly selflocking removable cover, all as hereinafter fully explained.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation; Fig. 2, an end view; Fig. 3, a top plan,

showing the cover and its catches; Fig. t, perspective of the inner box.

A represents the box or package, being of wood and ofopen frame-work, as shown in Fig. 1, and either square, oblong, or other suitable shape, the upper slat of which is cut away, as seen at y y, to facilitate handling.

B is an independent removable cover, having strengthening end pieces, a a.

O 0 represent two blocks or wooden pieces fastened to the upper side of the cover just back of the end pieces, a a, their object being twofold-first, to act as sockets for the hinges or hasps b b, and also for holding together the different strips of wood composing the cover B, thereby greatly strengthening it. The hasps b b are made of strong wire bent into a square or oblong shape, the two ends setting into holes a c in the blocks 0. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) It is then bent down so as to fit exactly over the edge of the cover B, at both ends alike. (See Fig. 1.)

At one end, A, of the box is fastened, near the top, a beveled cleat, d, with a downwardlyprojecting lip, (1, thus leaving a space, 6, between it and the box. The hasp b is set over the edge of this cleat d d and in the space 0. This forms a hinge. (The hasps b b are alike at both ends.) At the other end of the box A is attached a projecting piece, f, somewhat similar to d, but without the lip 61. Over this the other hasp is sprung and is held there by a button or catch, 9, pivoted to the piece f, (shown in Fig. 1,) thus making a lock of it, preventing the removal of the cover, except when desired, the hinged end being held by tension.

It makes no difference which way the cover is put on, both ends fitting alike over either piece, (I or f,the bent-wire hasps acting also as springs, and are not easily removed unless some force is used, either hasp b acting as a hinge or fastening, merely depending on chance.

This removable cover is a great advantage, as no hinges ot' the usual form or style are required, and which in shipping and handling get knocked off and are easily broken. The boxes are also more compactly reshipped when empty, as the covers can all be put together, and the boxes by themselves.

A basket, I),'is made of some light stuff, like pasteboard, thick paper, shavings, splints, &c., such as shown in Fig. at, made to fit inside the crates,which will hold two or more, to give additional safety to peaches, 850., set therein, preventing bruising and save greatly in handling, as the baskets can be taken out of the crates Aand retained by the fruit purchasers, their places to be filled by others when the crates are again used for shipping.

Peach-baskets now in use cannot be set on top of each other when filled with fruit without great damage to the peaches on top, the best being usually placed at the top of the basket. My light inexpensive baskets D are intended to take the place of such for transporting purposes, and in connection with my crates A,the crate alone to be usually returned to the shipper.

I claim- In combination with a boxer crate having on one end the piece d d, and the pieces fg at the other end, the cover B, having attached the blocks 0 O and a a, and the two bent wires I) b, one at each end, either one acting as a hinge in connection with the pieces (1 d, and the other as afastenin g in connection with the pieces f g, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ASA B. FISK. Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, 'GEO. A. BURNETT. 

